Martha Stewart Wants More Protection for Pigs in New Jersey

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New Jersey native, Martha Stewart, is hoping legislators in her home state will support a statewide ban on gestation crates for pigs.

Gestation crates are commonly used in factory farming to confine female breeder pigs during pregnancy (which, in factory farming, is the majority of their lives). The crates are only big enough for one pig, with no wiggle room to even turn around. It is a common practice that animal activists have been fighting against for years. Stewart joins that fight.

“These animals have committed no crime, yet they’re treated worse than even the most violent criminals would be treated. No prisoner in our state – or country, for that matter – is kept in a cage so small he can’t turn around for months on end. This is torture, and we shouldn’t permit it to be inflicted on anyone, especially animals who have done nothing to deserve such callous punishment,” Stewart said in her open letter to the New Jersey lawmakers.

According to a survey by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, 91% of NJ voters support the ban. S.1921, a bill that would require breeding pigs have at least enough room to stand up, lie down, turn around, and extend their limbs, seemed like it was going to pass in May. Unfortunately, Governor Christie vetoed it due to pressure from out-of-state pork powers.